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This fall, gen Alpha heads back to school.
As the adults in their lives, you can’t stop them from calling you “unc” or prepare them for AI’s infiltration of their classrooms. Yet you can equip them with the right back-to-school essentials – whether a new pencil case or the toy of the moment.
We interviewed six kids aged nine through 12 (many of them the children of Guardian staff!), asking them what made their back-to-school wish list or what they’ve already grabbed for the year. And we tapped the opinion of a few spunky eight-year-olds – because they’ll be tweens soon enough.
Sour and spicy snacks
I want some popular food because I know they have snack rooms. It would be a fun treat to have, like sour Warheads, Pringles and Takis. Leo, 11
Warheads Candy
from $8.95
New pencils
Etsy
Personalized Pencils
$15.98
Something I’m looking forward to buying are new pencils. I’m just excited to see what I have to get for the new school year. I was accepted to go to this middle school that starts in 5th-grade. (Note: We’ve linked to personalized pencils for a less common gift, but you can also get your tween classic No 2s.) Axel, 10
Etsy
Personalized Pencils
$15.98
Steph Curry basketball-style shoes
Under Armour
Kids’ Curry 13 ‘ Mane’ Basketball Shoes
$71.97
I want new shoes because mine are getting pretty banged up. The shoes that I need to get replaced are some Steph Curry basketball shoes. They had foam at the bottom that put back energy into you so that you can run faster. Copper, 9
Under Armour
Kids’ Curry 13 ‘ Mane’ Basketball Shoes
$71.97
Cinnamoroll sweater
H&M
Pile Sweatshirt with Motif
$29.99
I definitely want to wear the Sanrio Cinnamoroll sweater. I don’t know if it’s possible to get it. Lily W, 9
H&M
Pile Sweatshirt with Motif
$29.99
NeeDoh squishy toy
NeeDoh
Nice Cube Squish Toy
$22.99
... or if that’s sold out, a regular squishy
Rapean Store
Butter Squishy Fidget Toys
$12.98
I collect squishies. The big ones or the NeeDohs. I don’t care as long as it’s a squishy. Dion, 9
Rapean Store
Butter Squishy Fidget Toys
$12.98
Minecraft Jelly Cube Squishy
Minecraft
Jelly Cube Collectible
$16.50
I have too many squishys to share. I have an ice cube. I have fake gumdrops. I want the Minecraft jelly cube or glitter dumpling. Leo, 11
Minecraft
Jelly Cube Collectible
$16.50
Matching school supplies set
Four Candies
Pink School Supplies Kit
$21.99
Something I kind of want this year that I didn’t have last year is matching and clean school supplies because a lot of schools, especially my school, get mad if you don’t bring pencils. This isn’t particularly me, but a lot of people want matching stuff, like backpacks and pencil cases and even outfits because a lot of things are just about aesthetics and stuff. I don’t know. I’m not really that into that sort of thing. I just want to be kind of prepared for school. Eva, 11
Four Candies
Pink School Supplies Kit
$21.99
Mechanical pencils
Bic
Mechanical Pencils
$4.47
Some stuff to write with in case they don’t have sharpened pencils or the teachers are not prepared in general. Not to outsmart them but to say, “I’m more self-aware.” I like mechanical pencils because they’re more advanced than regular pencils. Leo, 11
Bic
Mechanical Pencils
$4.47
Roller skate shoes
Roller Skate Shoes
Anefun
$37.79
I want those. You get to run and then you just glide. Lily W, 9
Roller Skate Shoes
Anefun
$37.79
Soccer jerseys
Adidas
Spain 26 Home Kids Winner Jersey
$80
I have many jerseys. The jersey I’m wearing right now is Erling Haaland. Axel, 10
Adidas
Spain 26 Home Kids Winner Jersey
$80
The novel Fantasy League by Mike Lupica
Fantasy League by Mike Lupica
from $8.84
It’s called Fantasy League. I just started reading it. Dion, 9
Fantasy League by Mike Lupica
from $8.84
Oyyn baggy jeans
Oyyn
Baggy Jeans
$28.20
‘Plain’ clothing
Abercrombie
Essential Popover Hoodie
$23.97
I think a lot of plain things are kind of coming more back in style, like people are wearing plainer shorts or, I mean, shirts and plainer outfits overall. Eva, 11
Abercrombie
Essential Popover Hoodie
$23.97
Fuzzy-covered notebook
Diary with Lock
$13.99
Hello Kitty stickers
Hello Kitty Stickers
from $5.99
A clipboard with my favorite stickers on it. My favorite are Cinnamoroll stickers. Not cinnamon roll like the thing you eat, Cinnamoroll from Hello Kitty. Lily W, 9
Hello Kitty Stickers
from $5.99
Jansport backpack
Jansport
SuperBreak Plus Backpack
from $35
I’m bringing my dad’s high school Jansport backpack. So many pockets. Lily D, 8
Jansport
SuperBreak Plus Backpack
from $35
Lip gloss
Tower 28
ShineOn Lip Oil Jelly
from $16
Cute keychains
Plush Keychain
from $7.49
Five Nights at Freddy’s lunch box
Five Nights At Freddy’s Celebrate Lunch Box insulated Video Game Lunch Bag Tote 12in
from $18.74
… and a Five Nights at Freddy’s water bottle
Five Nights at Freddy’s water bottle
from $19.99
Other pieces you might enjoy from the Filter, the Guardian’s guide to buying fewer, better things:
English (US) ·